The One against All - Turn 3 Win with best hand

Commander / EDH Aggro Artifact Budget Mono-Red Primer

ScrOuch

Artifact (27)

• 1x Door of Destinies
• 1x Erratic Portal
• 1x Explorer's Scope
• 1x Extraplanar Lens
• 1x Fireshrieker
• 1x Grafted Wargear
• 1x Hero's Blade
• 1x Infiltration Lens
• 1x Mask of Memory
• 1x Masterwork of Ingenuity
• 1x Mogg Cannon
• 1x O-Naginata
• 1x Obsidian Battle-Axe
• 1x Power Matrix
• 1x Rogue's Gloves
• 1x Ronin Warclub
• 1x Sai of the Shinobi
• 1x Sol Ring
• 1x Stormrider Rig
• 1x Strata Scythe
• 1x Sword of the Animist
• 1x Sword of the Chosen
• 1x Sword of Vengeance
• 1x Tenza, Godo's Maul
• 1x Trailblazer's Boots
• 1x Vorrac Battlehorns
• 1x Whispersilk Cloak

Creature (15)

• 1x Archetype of Aggression
• 1x Brass Squire
• 1x Brighthearth Banneret
• 1x Dwarven Nomad
• 1x Dwarven Warriors
• 1x Goblin Tunneler
• 1x Godo, Bandit Warlord
• 1x Homura, Human Ascendant  ^Flip
• 1x Magus of the Wheel
• 1x Ogre Battledriver
• 1x Purphoros, God of the Forge
• 1x Rubblebelt Maaka
• 1x Scab-Clan Berserker
• 1x Stonewright
• 1x Warbringer

Instant (7)

• 1x Blazing Shoal
• 1x Brute Force
• 1x Demoralize
• 1x Falter
• 1x Rush of Blood
• 1x Temur Battle Rage
• 1x Titan's Strength

Sorcery (7)

• 1x Anger of the Gods
• 1x Assault Strobe
• 1x Blinding Flare
• 1x Magmatic Chasm
• 1x Reckless Charge
• 1x Seething Anger
• 1x Sudden Demise

Commander (1)

Land (37)

• 1x Buried Ruin
• 1x Cathedral of War
• 1x Forgotten Cave
• 1x Kher Keep
• 27x Mountain
• 1x Rogue's Passage
• 1x Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep
• 1x Smoldering Crater
• 1x Strip Mine
• 1x Teetering Peaks
• 1x Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle

Enchantment (6)

• 1x Break Through the Line
• 1x Electropotence
• 1x Impact Tremors
• 1x Onslaught
• 1x Outpost Siege
• 1x Warstorm Surge

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Sideboard

Artifact (4)

• 1x Crawlspace
• 1x Elixir of Immortality
• 1x Kusari-Gama
• 1x Noetic Scales

Creature (1)

• 1x Silent Arbiter

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Maybeboard

Artifact (7)

• 1x Blade of Selves
• 1x Citanul Flute
• 1x Golem-Skin Gauntlets
• 1x Loxodon Warhammer
• 1x Seer's Sundial
• 1x Umezawa's Jitte
• 1x Urza's Incubator

Creature (1)

• 1x Goblin Recruiter

Land (1)

• 1x Madblind Mountain

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The One Against All

Have you ever had this feeling that this one Legendary Creature must be the one for your Commander Deck? Well, I've got this feeling when I saw Zurgo. I thought he's like the Highlander (you know, that movie in the mid 80's) of Legendary Creatures.So, I decided to build the whole deck around Zurgo as the only significant creature. Of course there some other creatures but they are more likely to be seen as the ones that pave the way for Zurgo.In fact I was so confident about that idea that I decided to write a little backstory for the deck. Be invited to read it! Although it won't help much understanding how this deck works. Either way, have fun with this deck!

PS: Yeah, somehow I have a tendency to build really fast decks. Turn 3 Win is indeed possible! I'd say, for Commander is it quiet fast. Just have a look!

The Shortstory

Fate Reforged: A New Beginning

Zurgo, defeater of thousands of enemys, former Khan and brave warrior is now merely a shadow of himself.

Sarkhan Vol stood on a cliff high up above the dry wastes of Tarkir and watched his former nemesis chasing up to the small Kolaghan Outpost on the horizon. Behind him, maybe a mile away, was a small pack of Silumgar's brood thirsting for flesh and blood. They must have ambushed Zurgo's scout troop near the deep canyon pathway which lies on the boarders to the old swamps, where Silumgar's realm begins.

As Sarkhan saw the fear in Zurgo's eyes, his fiery wrath slowly died down to a mere flicker. He turned around, knowing that this poor creature below on the hot desert ground is not the tyrant he has sworn to defeat anymore. He's just a whimp, not worth of having Sarkhan's grudge.

Zurgo's heart in his chest pounded fast and heavily. How foolish his brothers were to even dare to take a glimpse in these unhallowed swamps. He knew it was dangerous and he told them again and again, but they wouldn't hear. And now they never hear ever again. Zurgo brought up the rear of his troop just to see Silumgar's brood feast upon the unprepared bodies of every single warrior before him. How foolish. Foolish, foolish, foolish! No one believed him when he told them to be cautious. But he himself was always cautious. There's a reason why the dragons named him the Bellstriker. Him who always had his watchful eye wander through his surroundings.

Even now, in his fear, he let his eyes wander over the dying landscape, hoping to find even the slightest glimpse of hope in form of a hideout that will protect him from the red dyed fangs of those ravaging monsters.

Or maybe he was fast enough? Maybe he could reach the outpost and...

No. As he looked over his shoulder he saw them catch up more and more while his horse's breath runs short. If he doesn't do anything this will be it.

The last resort may be the rocky surroundings of the canyon left to the path that leads him to his clan. A strong jolt on the reins and his horse changed its way to the large shadows the sun created under those vast rocks.

He ran out of time.

Around hundredfifty feet, maybe twenty more, was all that separated him from his death. The rocks began to grow and soon the former plane ground was littered with huge boulders that made it nearly impossible for the large corpuses of his pursuers to somehow follow him. Zurgo glanced over his shoulder once more just to see with reassurance that none of the dragon's brood dared to follow him through those deadly pikes that surrounded him.

He sighed with relief as he crossed underneath an imposing stone arch that endured over the ages.

Suddenly something big reached out from above. Zurgo had just an eyeblink to realize what had happened. The dragon's sharp fangs bored their way into the neck of his horse. One of those greedy monsters must have awaited him here, calmly and patiently. A harsh jar disgorged him of his saddle and against the inside of the arch.By the time he opened his eyes he saw the dead body of his horse just lay there on the ground, headless and swimming in blood.

His eyes wide open and panicking, Zurgo pressed himself against the wall. He drew his weapon, more to catch hold of something than to defend himself, slowly realizing that this will be the end for him. He, who always striked the bell first.

The dragon's mouth opened wide and a loud roar cut through the empty Widths and awakened Zurgo's mind from the shock.

"If I die here, I'll do it in your blood!", a distorted smile appeared on this face, every part of his body was tense and calm. The shivering was over. The monster's death will be his legacy and when they find his dead body, they will celebrate him as a dragonslayer.The next second, the dragon's ivories dashed towards the tensed body. Zurgo's muscles burst as he leaped over the dragon's fangs his saber high over his head. Time seemed to flow slower while he landed on the beast's head the blade of his saber up to the grip buried in the eye of the brood. A bloodcurdling roar broke the silence again as the dragon squirmed with pain.The monster tried to shake Zurgo off, but he held on to his saber no matter what happened.Suddenly the dragon began to beat his wings, desperately trying to escape this pain. He flew up, Zurgo still on his head.

Zurgo counted the wing beats.

One. Two. Three.

With a heavy impact the dragon rammed his body against the end of the arch. The rock broke and an avalanche of rocks rained down as the bodies of Zurgo and the dragon fell towards the ground.Zurgo closed his eyes. This was his grand performance.

His time to be foolish.

The last thing he felt was the dead rock beneath him as darkness enveloped his world. The avalanche impinged upon the dead bodies as the blood of the dragon coalesced with Zurgo's.

Something felt different when he awoke.

He awoke?

Wasn't he dead?

Zurgo opened his eyes just to find himself in the center of a large round platform made of ancient stone. The plateau was intersected with red glowing lines which lead to the altar where Zugo rested on. It was surrounded with a strange thick darkness which was intermitted by glowing lights. They reminded Zurgo of the night sky back when he was...somewhere else.

He glanced down at his hands just to see that a red aura embraced them. Not just the hands, his whole body glew in a strong deep red. Here and there, small flashes emitted from the glowing.Strangely enough, Zurgo didn't even wonder about all this.

He closed his eyes. He felt the power.

Suddenly Zurgo remembered it all - He was a Warlord. One of the great Khans, he had unbelievable power - and he was the Bellstriker. The one who got harassed from the dragons and who was always in the rear - He reigned over a realm that has seen no dragon for a long time - And he was one Kolaghan's disciples.

Then he remembered Sarkhan Vol.

His former general, who had become a greater, more powerful being. Who he wanted to kill. Who changed time.

Zurgo suddenly understood every fragment of his past. To his own surprise, no anger was inherent in him. He knew he himself also had become more than a mere liveform. What was he? A planeswalker?

"You are no planeswalker."

A deep, ubiquitous voice echoed around him. While Zurgo still tried to find the origin of this voice, someone - or something - emerged from the darkness and began to take shape. Although its form seemed familiar, Zurgo was not able to focus on its appearance. One moment it reminded him of himself, in another moment it was much larger, greater.

"Where am I? What happened to me?"

"You are in the heart of all things. This here is the source of Mana itself. The Great Library.", it opened up its arms and suddenly the darkness around them began to shine in all colours. It moved around, took form, created, just to destroy again. It was a neverending circle of wonders.

"And you", as the being continued to speak, everything seemed calm again as if nothing ever happened, "You are reincarnated. In this moment, you are a soul of pure mana."

Normally, he should be astonished or at least feel anything else, Zurgo thought, but the only emotion that spread its way through his body, was satisfaction.

"I know.", he replied, "And who are you?""I am an Essence Spark. I was sent to become one with you."

Suddenly another question filled Zurgo's mind. "But..what did exactly happen? Weren't I dead?""You were", the Essence Spark answered with its emotionless voice, "But you are chosen. Your soul is more than that of a mere living creature. You felt it, didn't you?"

Zurgo remembered all the thoughts that he was suddenly aware of just moments ago. "Yes, I did. What will happen now?"

"You will go back as a new being. When we become one, you will be a Commander. They chose you as "The One Against All", the Incarnation of Speed, the One who always rises again. And you will strive to become more. For those who are not like you, you will be nothing more than a spectator. But those who share your Spark, will desire it. You will roam the planes to compete with them and your soul will grow with every Spark you absorb."

The air became tense, like an enormous amount of energy was running through every molecule in this dimension.

"Then", Zurgo began his first command, "become one with me, the One Against All."

"So shall it be."

The being started to glow in a deep red, the same colour that surrounded Zurgo. Everything on the plateau vibrated through the energy that surrounded him. A giant lightning strike occured from above and hit the red mass of mana that hovered before him.

Suddenly the energy expanded in every direction and took various shapes. Zurgo saw ancient artifacts, powerful swords and other weapons, mythic jewels and shimmering garments. In their middle appeared a fiery orb that contained unbelievable magical power. As he put on every object that was created through his new immense power, he instinctively knew how to wield every single one of them, as if..it was part of his soul.

When he was ready, he approached the burning orb. With every step that he took, his mind created his counselors left and right of him, bowing before him. Each of them gifted with its unique ability to bolster their Commander. He counted twelve of them. He reached the orb which now glew brighter than everything, Zurgo has ever seen. His surrounding began to take form of a huge golden and red shining deity that held the plateau in his hands. Even the gods lent him their power.

Zurgo reached out to the magical sphere and grabbed it. A blazing storm began to originate from it. Everything seemed to shine as bright as the sun itself and flames began to chase around Zurgo's body. With a big bang the blazes grabbed after him like he grabbed the sphere before.They took him whole and became one with him.

Zurgo squints his eyes and in the blin of an eye everything went quiet.

Zurgo felt a light breeze in his face. He opened his eyes once more and looked around just to realize that he stood right beside his stony grave under the majestic cliff that is now covered in darkness. He crouched down to see the dead arm of his old self that peeked out beneath the crumbled rocks. Zurgo stretched out his arm and emitted a light red shimmer. The next second the body and the pool of blood disappeared.

The sun's first rays appeared on the horizon as he rose again. Zurgo, the One Against All covered his face with the hood of his cloak.

Finally, a new dawn begins.

Primer

The Commander Show

Zurgo is a really reliable Commander. His cost of only and his 2/2 stats makes him perfect for a fast and aggressive play. Also his dash ability makes him less vulnerable to creature destroy as he only keeps on the battlefield as long as it is your turn. With the right support he can be hell of a menace.

Reading this Deck Show

The Deck is quiet easy to read. It mainly consists of support spells to strengthen Zurgo himself. There are few other creatures but they are only added for their ability that for example allow Zurgo to be cast for cheaper cost or grant him unblockability. It also contains of various artifacts that's mainly equipment or grant additional benefits for your commander, when tapped. Most other spells also mainly play a role in powering up your commander except of some spells that work as removal in case your generel disabled to reach your opponent. As you see, for this deck your commander is the main source of damage so do your best to let him work that way.

Deck colors Show

Well, this one is easy. Red is a beautiful color for a fast and aggressive deck like this one. Most people praise red for its direct damage but I love to play to get around those typical uses (although having some of them in your deck is always recommendable) to create a theme that is kind of unique. Of course, artifacts help a lot to achieve this goal.

Deck Strengths Show

The deck's strengths are its speed and its lower vulnerability for creature removal. Well, the last point is not 100% accurate as it still can be a problem if your Dwarven Warriors or Goblin Tunneler will get removed, but there are several ways to replace them.Which leads me to another advantage: I'd call it the deck's "spare parts depot". Nearly every card in this deck can be combined with your commander what means it's very unlikely that you ran out of ammo.

Deck Weaknesses Show

One of the main weaknesses is the deck's unflexibility. Till now you most likely will have realized that it all focusses around your commander. If your opponent finds a permanent way to get rid of this card (for example by casting Nevermore) it will get rather difficult if not impossible to win. Also there are only very few to no control cards (except the few damage spells that often times play hard to get) which means you have no noteworthy way to interrupt your opponents strategy. Just hope you will be fast enough to win before he can't be held up.

The Strategy

General Strategy Show

You want Zurgo out as early as possible and, because of his minimal mana cost, there should be no chance that this is not turn 1. From this time on, strengthen Zurgo every possible turn, use instants to power him up, bring out as many equipments as possible, use your other creatures to make Zurgo even more effective. It won't be a problem if he dies as it will take some time 'til his cost will get a serious problem.

Early Game Show

Cast Zurgo and boost him up by casting Brute Force, Titan's Strength and Reckless Charge . If he dies, dash him and keep fingers crossed that your opponent has no endless supply of removal. A good amount of Equipment doesn't hurt here cause it won't be a huge loss when Zurgo returns to your hand if he can come back next turn without losing his former strength.Special attention deserve artifacts like Hero's Blade or Obsidian Battle-Axe 'cause they directly equip Zurgo when he enters the battlefield. That's a powerful combination with his Dash ability.

Mid Game Show

Try to have a good amount of mana to be ready to equip Zurgo with everything that's already on the battlefield and doesn't equip itself. Therefor having cards like Sword of the Animist or Explorer's Scope is a good way to solve any mana problems. Also Brighthearth Banneret and Warbringer reduce Zurgo's cost drastically, even with Dash.

Late Game Show

Hopefully you don't have to play to that point, but if that occurs, there are some cards to pave your way. Does the opponent have to many blockers? Go around them by using cards like Dwarven Warriors or Goblin Tunneler when Zurgo enters the battlefield right before the triggered abilities of Hero's Blade or In the Web of War resolve or equip Kusari-Gama and your opponent loses all creatures in one instance if he has no choice but to block him.Does attacking not work? Play Warstorm Surge and let it trigger after you used activated abilities of your creature's, instants or other triggered abilities by putting it at the end of the stack.

Mulligans Show

You want at least one, even better two lands on your starting hand and no expensive spell of a cost of 4+. Keep hands with cheap equipment and instant spells like Brute Force.

Combos Show

Hero's Blade + Warstorm Surge + Zurgo Bellstriker :

When the triggered ability of Hero's Blade and Warstorm Surge land on the stack, let Warstorm surge resolve last and do 5 damage instead of just 2. This also works with every other triggered equip ability (combined).

Erratic Portal + Warstorm Surge + Zurgo Bellstriker :

Do twice as much damage each turn for 4 Mana. (normal cast, return, dash)

Erratic Portal + Godo, Bandit Warlord :

Search your library for equipment up to two times each turn.

Goblin Tunneler + Hero's Blade + Zurgo Bellstriker :Because Hero' Blade's alternative equip is a triggered ability it lands on the stack. React on it with Goblin Tunneler's activated ability to make Zurgo unblockable before the equip resolves. Also works with every other triggered equip ability.

Card Choices

Lands Show

Since this Deck is mono-colored there's not much to say. Here are the few choices besides Mountains I made:

Forgotten Cave + Smoldering Crater:

If you already have enough mana, use them to draw additional cards, since red has only very few choices to draw additional cards

Teetering Peaks :

Instant +2/+0 for (since it enters the battlefield tapped)

Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle:

Late Game card for additional player damage and creature removal.

Strip Mine:

Destroy an Urza's Tower or something. You don't want an Ulamog or Kozilek against you.

Buried Ruin:

If your opponent hates your artifacts but you want them back. They are your artifacts.

Shinka, the Bloodsoaked Keep :

First Strike for Zurgo if needed.

Cathedral of War:

Additional +1/+1 for Zurgo's attacks.

Rogue's Passage:

Another way to evade blockers

Creatures Show

There are just a few creatures in here, but none of them is without great use. Have a look!

Brighthearth Banneret + Warbringer :

Cast your Zurgo cheaper with or without dash

Dwarven Nomad +Dwarven Warriors+ Goblin Tunneler

Make Zurgo unblockable. Espacially neat with his Dash ability. You always can activate those abilities before triggered abilities resolve to boost Zurgo up.

Homura, Human Ascendant

Try to get him into your graveyard as fast as possible. Attack on and on until your opponent has no choice but to destroy him. From then on, the +2/+2 and flying are a really nice bonus.

Magus of the Wheel

Additional card draw, when you only play top deck or need some new goods.

Ogre Battledriver

Free +2/+0 and haste for Zurgo if you decide to cast him the normal way (in case you otherwise wouldn't have enough mana).

Purphoros, God of the Forge

Damage whenever Zurgo or another creature enter the battlefield. With Dash that happens at least once a turn.

Rubblebelt Maaka

Don't cast, just discard it to boost Zurgo

Godo, Bandit Warlord

A Tutor for your Equipment.

Brass Squire

Equip Zurgo for free.

Stonewright

Bind him with Zurgo to have him firebreath all over the place.

Archetype of Aggression

Trample for everyone. Except your opponents.

Scab-Clan Berserker

Get it renowned through Goblin Tunneler or else to shock your opponent everytime he casts something else than creatures.

Other Cards Show

Since there are many cards that follow the same purpose I turn this section around and write the use of cards first and list all cards that belong under that topic.

Free Equip:Boosting your commander without paying much is what you want. All the better if it works for free.

Grafted Wargear

Hero's Blade

Obsidian Battle-Axe

Ronin Warclub

Sai of the Shinobi

Stormrider Rig

Non-Equipment Artifact boosters:Artifacts that boost you up without equipping are even better!

Door of Destinies

Mogg Cannon

Power Matrix

Sword of the Chosen

Ramp:Not much but maybe exactly what you need. This deck doesn't need ramp particularly, but, if it comes to the late game, the more the better.

Explorer's Scope

Sword of the Animist

Sol Ring

Extraplanar Lens

Equipment that's to useful to let it out:Trample, card draw, growing boost and doublestrike for a decent cost.

Vorrac Battlehorns

O-Naginata

Rogue's Gloves

Masterwork of Ingenuity

Mask of Memory

Infiltration Lens

Strata Scythe

Sword of Vengeance

Tenza, Godo's Maul

Fireshrieker

Boost:The most important aspect to qualify for this category is to be cheap and powerful. There are some exceptions on this list for the end game.

Assault Strobe

Reckless Charge

Seething Anger

Rush of Blood

Temur Battle Rage

Titan's Strength

Brute Force

Blazing Shoal

Mass Removal:Cheap Mass Removal that let's keep your own creatures.

Kusari-Gama (Sideboard

Anger of the Gods

Sudden Demise

Evasion:Cheap spells to evade your opponent's creatures

Blinding Flare

Magmatic Chasm

Demoralize

Falter

Onslaught

Whispersilk Cloak

Trailblazer's Boots

Break Through the Line

Removal and Damage:An early and two mid to late game enchantments.

Impact Tremors

Outpost Siege

Warstorm Surge

Additional good stuff:

Erratic Portal

Nice card to protect Zurgo against removal and serves as kind-of-removal against opponent's creatures. Also good for several combos (see Combo Section).

Turn 3 Win

As promised, here you can find an example of how to win in turn 3. Although it's more of a gimmick, it's a pretty cool one, I would say! And it shows the speed that's hidden in this deck.

Hand: 2x Mountains, Sol Ring, Sai of the Shinobi, Hero's Blade, Masterwork of Ingenuity , Brute Force

Turn 1:Play Mountain, Cast Sol Ring, Cast Hero's Blade

Turn 2:Play Mountain, Cast Masterwork of Ingenuity and let it be a copy of Hero's Blade, Cast Sai of the Shinobi, Dash Zurgo Bellstriker and attack for 9 Commander damage.

Turn 3:Dash Zurgo, cast Brute Force and attack for 12 Commander Damage. That is 21 Commander Damage in total.

Feedback

I hope you all enjoyed this primer! Please let me know if you have any suggestions that can improve this deck.

It's my first try to make a competitive low budget Deck.

I would be happy about a +1, if you like what you see!

Let the battles begin!

Date added	8 years
Last updated	7 years
Key combos	Hero's Blade + Warstorm Surge + Zurgo Bellstriker Erratic Portal + Warstorm Surge + Zurgo Bellstriker Erratic Portal + Godo, Bandit Warlord Goblin Tunneler + Hero's Blade + Zurgo Bellstriker
Legality	This deck is Commander / EDH legal.
Rarity (main - side)	2 - 0 Mythic Rares 24 - 4 Rares 26 - 1 Uncommons 21 - 0 Commons
Cards	100
Avg. CMC	2.49
Tokens	Kobolds of Kher Keep 0/1 R
Folders	fun decks, Stolen EDH